Scottish darting hero and co-founder of PDC Jamie Harvey passes away

The PDC announced the passing of Jamie Harvey on Thursday. He passed away at the age of 70 at home, surrounded by his loved ones, with his son confirming his passing.

Harvey was one of the founders of the World Darts Council, the body that later became the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), in the early 1990s. In doing so, he was not only at the oche, but also at the cradle of the professionalization that permanently changed the sport. On stage, he was a fixture at the time: thirteen consecutive World Championship appearances in the iconic Circus Tavern speak volumes, culminating in the semifinals of the 1995/96 World Championship.

The Scot also managed to go far once in Blackpool. In 1996, Harvey reached the semifinals of the World Matchplay, one of his 12 appearances at the Winter Gardens. He also appeared at the World Grand Prix, the UK Open and the Las Vegas Desert Classic, tournaments that were eye-catchers in the early years of the PDC.

His finest day winning a PDC ranking tournament came in 2000, when Harvey won the Antwerp Open by defeating Roland Scholten in the final. It was a title that fit his reputation: a fighter, technically skilled, and always able to peak at the right time. Eight years later, his career received another curious footnote: at the 2008 UK Open, Harvey cashed in a nine-darter to Phil Taylor in what would turn out to be his last televised match. In 2009, he hung up his darts.

He battled throat cancer and underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth in his throat. He also had his voice box removed. He returned to darts in 2011 in the BDO and played only Scottish events. This after having to endure a permanent laryngectomy stoma to help him speak.

But his fire never left him. he previously stated his want to play in the now defunct World Series staking his claim to play in the inaugural edition but it never transpired.

“I’d like to be invited for the Seniors Championship. I was once fourth in the world so I think I deserve my chance," he said to Oche back in 2021.

“I hope I’m not forgotten just because I’ve been ill and not very loud on social media but I am still here and I can still play. There’s no doubt I’d have to do some serious practice over the next few months to be ready for it. So it would be nice to know."